Match-safe.



Patented Feb. 27, I900.

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'UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICES I MICI'IAL OBERLANDER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MATCH-SAFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,449, dated February 27, 1900. Application filed November 15,1899. Serial No. 737,023. (No model.)

To all whom/it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MIOHAL OBERLliNDER; a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at New York city, borough of Manhattan, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Match- Safes, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in match boxes or safes of the class in which the match is ignited upon being withdrawn therefrom; and the object of the invention is to enable any of the contained matches to be withdrawn from the box' as desired and to cause it to ignite during its withdrawal.

The invention consists in a match safe or box comprising a receptacle adapted to contain matches and having one or more mov able plates or walls, an igniting-surface, and means for pressing such wall or walls toward the matches, whereby matches may be ar-' ranged in a row along such wall or walls in position to be extracted individually and during such extraction may be drawn in contact with such igniting-surface for the purpose of igniting the match, the match to ignite as it is drawn'across such surface.

The invention also consists in the novel details of improvement, that will be more fully hereinafter set forth and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, wherein-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a match safe or box embodying my invention, the lid being shown open. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing one side of the safe or box thrown open to expose the contained parts. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the inclosing case. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the match-igniting appliances. Fig. 5 is a cross-section thereof on the plane of the line 5 5 in Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View of the matchigniting plate or wall.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views, 1 indicates a suitable receptacle, shown in the form of a box, sat'e,'or the like provided with a cover 2, that may be hinged, all of which may be of suitable or usual construction and by preference provided with a catch or the like 3 at to hold the cover closed.

In the type of safe or boxI have illustrated one side 5 of the same is adapted to open to expose the interior of the safe or box, and said side is shown pivoted to the main part of the box, as by a hinge 6, a suitable catch 7 8 being shown for holding the side 5 closed.

Within the receptacle, box, or safe one or more plates or walls 9 are located and provided on one or both faces with a frictionsurface 9, adapted to cause matches to ignite when drawn across the same. The friction-surface 9 may be formed by indenting oi roughening the plate or wall or by the nature of the igniting substance applied thereto in well-known manner. In the drawings I have shown three walls or plates 9 placed side by side in such position that'matches 10 can be located between them. One or more of the plates or walls 9 are movably supported within the box 1 by suitable means, so as to be pressed against the adjacent matches to create a frictional pressure upon the matchheads when they are drawn along the igniting-surface. 1

In the construction illustrated Ihave shown a frame or the like 11 adapted to fit within receptacle or box 1 and also adapted to carry the plates 9. One of the plates 9 is shown integral with the material of said receptacle, and the other plates 9 are pivotally carried by said frame, being shown provided with ears 9*, journaled in apertures 11 in the ends of the frame, below the edge 11 thereof, but all or any of the plates could be movable, if desired. The movable plates 9 by preference do not extend to the bottom of frame 11, and thereby a space 12 is provided in such receptacle, in which the heads of the matches 10 can rest. The relative positions of the plates 9 are such that when the plates are loose or free to move appropriate matches can be passed between them, so that their heads can rest in the space 12 of frame 11, and when the plates are thereafter pressed toward the matches the heads of the matches will be drawn forcibly against the ignitingsurface 9 in their passage from the receptacle.

The frame 11 and its attached plates 9 afford a convenientmeans for removably supporting the plates 9 within the outer safe or box 1, but the plates or walls 9 could be supported in the receptacle,safe,or box 1 or otherwise, if desired. I provide means for. retaining the frame 11 and its plates 9 within the receptacle or box 1, so that said frame and plates will not be drawn out of the box when the matches are withdrawn. The means I have shown for this purpose comprise a hook or spring 13, shown on the bottom of frame 11 and adapted to engage or pass under a strap or the like 14, carried by the bottom of box 1, so that when the wall 5 of box 1 is opened the frame 11 can be inserted in or withdrawn from box 1, and when so inserted the parts 1314 will engage to keep the frame from being lifted out of the box.

I provide means for pressing the movable walls 9 toward the matches 10 to cause engagement of the match-heads with the igniting-surface 9 while the matches are withdrawn from the box or receptacle. The means I have shown for this purpose comprise a spring 15, located within box 1 and extending in such position as to be pressed against the adjacent plate 9 when the side 5 is closed. The spring I have shown has two arms, one to bear against the plate 9 and the other to bear against the side 5, and said springis shown substantially in the form of a Y, which is a convenient means of causing the side 5 to crowd the plates 9 toward the matches. This spring is shown journaled on the pin (3 of hinge 6. It is evident, however, that the spring can be otherwise arranged and located, if desired. The spring-pressure on plates 9 enables them to move laterally when necessary owing to the different sizes of the heads of matches.

To fill the match safe or box with matches, the cover 2 and the side 5 are opened out, and this gives the plates 9 freedom of movement laterally, and thereupon the matches 10 are inserted between said plates in a row side by side, so that their heads pass below the movable plates. The side 5 is then closed, and the spring 15 presses the plates in contact with the matches. To remove a match, its projecting upper end is grasped and is drawn forcibly outward, its head traveling in contact with the friction-surface 9 and becoming ignited. It will be seen that as the heads of the matches are below the friction-surface in the receptacle 12 there is no danger that one match in being withdrawn from the safe will ignite the others. It will also be seen that any of the matches desired can be reached and extracted without reference to any other match.

IVhile I have shown the receptacle 1 in the form of a box adapted to be carried in a pocket, it is evident that it can be arranged to stand upon a table, counter, or the like, and, furthermore, I do not limit my invention to the details of construction shown and described, as they may be varied without departing from the spirit thereof.

' Having now described my invention, what I claim is 1. A match -safe comprising a receptacle adapted to contain matches and having a pivoted plate or wall along which matches can rest and travel,an igniting-surface,and means for holding such wall in position to cause any one match to ignite as it is drawn across the igniting-surface, substantially as described.

2. A matchsafe comprising a receptacle adapted to contain matches and one or more plates or walls pivotally supported within the same adapted to receive a match between them, and provided with igniting-surfaces, and means for pushing said wall or walls toward the matches, substantially as described.

A match-safe comprising a receptacle adapted to contain matches and having one or more pivoted plates or walls provided with an igniting-surfaceadapted to receive matches between them, and a spring for holding said walls against the matches, substantially as described.

4. A match-safe comprising a receptacle adapted to contain matches and one or more pivoted plates or walls adapted to rest against a plurality of matches and having the lower edge or edges at a distance from the bottom of the receptacle to provide a free space for the match-heads, said plates or walls. having an igniting-surface for the match-heads, substantially as described.

5. A match safe or box comprising a receptacle having a movable side, one or more movable plates supported within the receptacle substantially parallel with the movable side and adapted to bear against a plurality of matches, and a spring located between said movable side and the adjacent plate whereby when the side is closed the spring will be compressed between said side and plate to press the movable plate toward the matches, substantially as described.

(3. In a match safe or box, the combination of a receptacle with a frame adapted to receive matches, and one or more plates pivotally connected with said frame and adapted to lie against a plurality of matches, and an igniting-surface for the match-heads to pass over, substantially as described.

7. In a match safeor box, the combination of a receptacle with a frame adapted to fit within said receptacle and one or more plates pivotally connected with said frame and having their lower edges at a'distance from t .e bottom of the frame to provide a space for match-heads, and means for pressing said plate or plates toward the matches, substantially as described.

8. In a match safe or box, the combination of a receptacle with a frame adapted to fit within said receptacle and having a permanent wall extending above the edge of the frame and one or more plates or walls movably connected with and extending above the frame and adapted to receive between them a plurality of matches, an igniting-surface for the match-heads, and means for pressing the movable plates or walls toward the matches, substantially as described.

9. In a match safe or boX, the combination of a receptacle having a movable side with a frame adapted to fit within said receptacle and having one or more movable plates or walls alin ed with the movable side and adapted to bear against a plurality of matches, means for pressing said plates toward the matches, and a hook and strap for removably holding said frame within said receptacle to prevent its Withdrawal from the receptacle by the withdrawal of matches therefrom, substantially as described.

MIOHAL OBERLANDER. WVitnesses:

T. F. BOURNE, LOUIs B. HASBROUCK. 

